The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday called upon the Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) to undertake a concerted effort in materialising the nation's development goals.

He assured his government's all-out cooperation in the endeavours of the expatriates and also pledged to take necessary steps to enrol them as voters after discussing the issue with the election commission.

The Chief Adviser was addressing the closing ceremony of the 3-day First Non-Resident Bangladeshi Conference 2007 organised by Scholars Bangladesh at Hotel Sheraton.

The common goal of the nation is to transform the motherland into a medium-income country by the year 2021, coinciding with 50 years of Bangladesh's independence, he said adding, "We can achieve this objective with the support and cooperation of all our citizens living at home and abroad."

Dr Fakhruddin appreciated the NRB community's cordial efforts to get involved with affairs of Bangladesh and urged them to expand their endeavours to ensure that the skills developed abroad by Bangladeshi citizens can be used to the fullest advantage by the nation.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury chaired the function while Dr Kamal Hossain gave the vote of thanks.

Michigan State Senator Hansen Clarke, UK BRAC representative Sandra Kabir, chief executive officer of Scholars Bangladesh Dilara Afroz Khan and on behalf of the Army Chief, Quarter Master General (QMG) of Bangladesh Army Lt Gen M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury spoke at the closing ceremony.

Over 1,000 Non-Resident Bangladeshis from 40 countries attended the conference.

The Chief Adviser glorified the leadership role of expatriate Bangladeshis in many renowned organisations, institutions and industries all over the world. "Your successes fill the hearts of the countrymen with pride," he said adding "There is wide scope to pool their knowledge, skills, expertise and experience to support the socioeconomic base of Bangladesh."

It is now necessary, more than ever before, to create the environment and opportunity for NRBs to tap talents and expertise of non-resident Bangladeshis to fuel the pace of development.

After the CA's speech, the floor was open for the expatriates and it turned out to be a lively question-answer session on the prospects and problems of the country and their well-defined roles.

A number of NRBs from the USA, the UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Japan, Italy, China, Sweden, New Zealand and Spain came up with a volley of questions, suggestions and problems before the Chief Adviser.

The Foreign Adviser moderated the question-answer session. The Chief Adviser gave answers to some of their queries and also suggested the expatriates and others to email questions and suggestions to him at feedback@pmo.gov.bd

About inclusion of NRBs in the voter list he mentioned the visit of Election Commissioners to the UK regarding voter listing of Bangladeshi expatriates.

He expects that EC will share their experience with the government along with recommendations and the government will think about next step. "We have to know how we can do that: what logistics are required and what are the legal aspects," he said.

About the harassment by the government officials, Fakhruddin said, "It is undeniable that there is scope for improvement". He mentioned separate counter for NRBs in airport and informed that the government is introducing training for improving approaches.On opening Consulate and Embassy, he said the Foreign Adviser would look into the matter. All Bangladesh missions abroad needed to update websites regularly, the Chief Adviser observed.

Regarding VISA form of NRBs, he said it should be uniform and rationalised.

The Chief Adviser distributed Scholar of the Year award to the winners for their outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

Eight Bangladeshi Scholars from home and abroad have been adjudged Scholars of the year 2007 in four fields--Art and Culture, Science, Technology and Innovation, Health and Medicine, and Education and Research in Honour of Shilpacharya Joynul Abidin, world-famous architect FR Khan, founder of BIRDEM hospital Dr M Ibrahim, renowned educationist and scientist Dr Kudrat-e-Khuda respectively.

The recipients are NRB Monirul Islam and Kalim Sharafi in Art and Culture, NRB Iqbal Z Quadir and Haripada Kapali in Science, Technology and Innovation, NRB Dr ABM Fazlul Karim and Dr MR Khan in Health and Medicine and NRB Prof Fazle Hussain and Dr Jamal Nazrul Islam in Education and Research.